Monday, June 28, 2010

Being a Banana

"Good leadership is the art of giving yourself away, and helping the people who bear more fruit in their own lives."

In Africa, there are many different kinds of trees - but there are two trees which are the most opposite from one another. These are the Banyan trees and Banana trees. Banyan trees are the greediest, most selfish trees around. From a long distance away, you can usually tell if a tree is a Banyan, because everything around the tree is dead. Banyans grow very tall, and live long lives, mostly because they selfishly drink up all the moisture and the life around them. No fruit grows on a Banyan. They are impressive to look at, but it is hard to say what the real purpose for a Banyan tree is. It would seem that Banyan's live mostly for themselves.

Banana trees on the other hand, are the most generous trees around. Shortly after a banana tree grows, it develops another tree right beside itself. Then, as soon as that tree grows, it too grows another tree right on the side of it. You can always tell Banana trees because you will usually find a sea of life surrounding one. From miles away, even before you see a banana, you can tell that a tree is a Banana tree, just because of the amount of vibrant and lush growth that you see all around. And, of course, Banana trees grow beautiful fruit. Banana trees don't live as long as Banyan trees, partly because they give up their own lives, so that other trees can have life.

Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matt. 7:17). Jesus also said, "I am he good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I down my life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15)